The Awareness Centre
The Awareness Centre is a London-based counselling and psychotherapy provider operating three city sites and a BACP-accredited training school, delivering NHS-funded, low-cost, and private therapy across 300+ therapists and 20+ languages to individuals, couples, and adolescents in South and Central London.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Awareness Centre does
The Awareness Centre (TAC) is a London-based counselling and psychotherapy provider operating across three physical sites — Clapham (41 Abbeville Road, SW4 9JX), Tooting (74-80 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7PB), and a CEO-led Marylebone practice at 85 Wimpole Street (W1G 9RJ) — supplemented by online session delivery. The organisation serves individual adults, adolescents, children, and couples through a three-tier service model: NHS-funded Talking Therapies delivered under contract in the Lambeth, Sutton, and Wandsworth boroughs; private therapy at £70 per individual session and £85 per couples session; and a low-cost tier staffed by trainee therapists at the Clapham and Tooting centres. The clinical network comprises more than 300 registered or accredited therapists covering 20+ languages and a broad range of specialisations including trauma, eating disorders, LGBTQIA+, psychosexual therapy, and child & adolescent work.
Revenue is generated through four principal streams: private therapy fees, NHS block contracts via partnerships with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG), tuition from the BACP-accredited Training School, and the CEO's individual private practice. The Training School operates as a separate legal entity (The Awareness Centre Training School Ltd) delivering a Foundation Certificate in Counselling, a BACP-accredited two-year Diploma in Integrative Counselling, and a Diploma in Clinical Supervision. Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer via an online self-service booking system and telephone reception, with NHS pathways functioning as a referral channel. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery relies on standard video conferencing for online counselling and a Wordpress-based website for bookings and content.
The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with Michaela McCarthy serving as CEO and also operating an active private practice that contributes a distinct premium-tier revenue stream. The Awareness Centre holds BACP accreditation at both the service and Diploma levels (the latter granted May 2024) and has invested in a content strategy through the May 2025 launch of the 'A Bunch of Therapists' podcast. No external investment, M&A activity, or AI/ML capability development is evidenced in the source data.
The Awareness Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Awareness Centre
- Legal name
- The Awareness Centre Ltd
- Website
- https://theawarenesscentre.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Awareness Centre is a London-based counselling and psychotherapy provider operating three city sites and a BACP-accredited training school, delivering NHS-funded, low-cost, and private therapy across 300+ therapists and 20+ languages to individuals, couples, and adolescents in South and Central London.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Awareness Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy
- NAICS
- Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (62133), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)
Keywords
Where The Awareness Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Awareness Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Private Therapy Services: Fee-for-service therapy sessions to individuals and couples. Counsellors and psychotherapists provide services from private practice locations.
- NHS Talking Therapies Contracts: Provision of short-term NHS-funded counselling in Lambeth, Sutton and Wandsworth. Counsellors either in training or qualified in multiple therapeutic approaches.
- Training School Courses: Professional counselling and clinical supervision training programs including Foundation Certificate, Diploma in Integrative Counselling (BACP accredited), and Diploma in Clinical Supervision. Revenue from tuition fees with direct debit monthly payment options.
- Low-Cost Therapy: Affordable therapy sessions provided by trainee counsellors and psychotherapists working towards full qualification at Clapham and Tooting centres.
- Michaela McCarthy Private Practice: CEO's individual private practice operating from Wimpole Street in Marylebone, providing counselling and psychotherapy services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Therapy Session |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Couples Therapy Session |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Low-Cost Counselling |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Awareness Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Awareness Centre delivers confidential counselling and psychotherapy services through three tiers — private, low-cost (trainee-delivered), and NHS-funded Talking Therapies — to individuals, couples, adolescents and children across London and online, staffed by over 300 BACP-registered therapists. The organisation also runs a BACP-accredited training school offering a Foundation Certificate in Counselling, a Diploma in Integrative Counselling, and a Diploma in Clinical Supervision, providing a full professional pathway from introductory training through to qualification.
Product overview
The Awareness Centre operates as a multi-service counselling and psychotherapy organization offering three tiers of therapy services (private, low-cost, and NHS-funded), complemented by a BACP-accredited training school that provides a complete professional journey from Foundation Certificate through to Diploma level. The organization also produces a podcast called 'A Bunch of Therapists' as a content and community initiative. Services are delivered across three London locations (Clapham, Tooting, and Marylebone) and online, with over 300 therapists providing support in more than 20 languages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- A Bunch of Therapists: A podcast hosted by Michaela McCarthy and Dipti Solanki that opens the door to real conversations from inside the therapy room, featuring therapists sharing their journeys and insights about mental health and the therapeutic process.
Products and services
- Private Therapy Services Individual, couples and specialist counselling and psychotherapy delivered by qualified, registered or accredited BACP therapists, available in-person across London and online. Covers issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, relationships, eating disorders, anger management, LGBTQIA+ support and more.
- Low-Cost Therapy Affordable counselling and psychotherapy provided by trainee therapists working towards full qualification, including LGBTQIA+ and multilingual options, available at Clapham and Tooting centres.
- NHS Talking Therapies Short-term NHS-funded counselling for adults experiencing anxiety and depression, delivered face-to-face or online in Lambeth, Sutton and Wandsworth. Includes a dedicated NHS multilingual counselling pathway.
- Foundation Certificate in Counselling Part-time, face-to-face introductory counselling training offered over six or ten months at Level 3 equivalent, with no prior qualifications or experience required, serving as the entry point to the Training School's diploma pathway.
- Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Companies that use The Awareness Centre
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Awareness Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Awareness Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM)coreNHS partnership providing counselling placements for TAC Training School students in Lambeth. Students gain clinical experience through NHS Talking Therapies services working with clients experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms.
- South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG)coreNHS partnership providing counselling placements for TAC Training School students in Wandsworth and Sutton. Students gain clinical experience through NHS Talking Therapies services.
- Michaela McCarthycoreCEO and founder runs independent private practice from Wimpole Street in Marylebone. Integrates with The Awareness Centre network while maintaining separate practice operations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Awareness Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harley Therapy: London-based private counselling and psychotherapy clinic with a large therapist network. Directly comparable as another multi-modality London private therapy provider competing for the same individual and couples clients.
- Relate: UK-wide provider of relationship counselling, sex therapy, and family therapy. Directly comparable for couples and relationship therapy services, the segment where TAC's CEO also practices and where TAC lists couples counselling among its core offerings.
- BACP-Accredited Training Providers (e.g., CPCAB, Iron Mill College): UK colleges offering BACP-aligned counselling diplomas and clinical supervision training. Directly comparable to TAC Training School's Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Diploma in Clinical Supervision, competing for the same aspiring counsellor cohort.
Broad incumbents
- Priory Group: One of the UK's largest independent mental health providers operating outpatient, inpatient, and residential services. Comparable as a broad incumbent in UK outpatient mental health, though much larger and not London-specialist.
- Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: NHS mental health trust operating psychotherapy outpatient clinics and postgraduate training in London. Comparable as both a London NHS mental health service provider and a psychotherapy training institution, the two pillars TAC also operates.
Emerging players
- BetterHelp: Global digital-first therapy platform delivering online counselling via subscription. Comparable as a competing channel for online counselling clients in London, though its digital-only model contrasts with TAC's in-person centres.
- Ieso Digital Health: UK-based provider of online CBT and NHS Talking Therapies services. Comparable as a competitor for NHS Talking Therapies contracts and online therapy delivery, particularly relevant given TAC's NHS and online delivery focus.
Others
- Mind (UK charity): National mental health charity providing information, support, and signposting rather than direct therapy. Comparable as a UK mental health brand and alternative for clients TAC serves, but operates a different (non-clinical) model.
- Therapy Directory: UK online directory listing therapists and counsellors with booking functionality. Comparable as a competing therapist-discovery channel in the same UK private-pay market where TAC acquires clients.
Regional players
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Talking Therapies: Other London NHS trust delivering NHS Talking Therapies. Comparable as another NHS Talking Therapies provider competing for similar borough-level contracts, though geographically separate from TAC's South London footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Awareness Centre social profiles
Digital presenceThe Awareness Centre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Awareness Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Awareness Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Awareness Centre subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Awareness Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Awareness Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Awareness Centre
What does The Awareness Centre do?
The Awareness Centre delivers confidential counselling and psychotherapy services through three tiers — private, low-cost (trainee-delivered), and NHS-funded Talking Therapies — to individuals, couples, adolescents and children across London and online, staffed by over 300 BACP-registered therapists. The organisation also runs a BACP-accredited training school offering a Foundation Certificate in Counselling, a Diploma in Integrative Counselling, and a Diploma in Clinical Supervision, providing a full professional pathway from introductory training through to qualification.
Is The Awareness Centre a public or private company?
The Awareness Centre is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Awareness Centre founded?
The Awareness Centre was founded in 2005. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The Awareness Centre based?
The Awareness Centre is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Awareness Centre make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Private Therapy Services are the primary driver. The others are NHS Talking Therapies Contracts, training School Courses, low-Cost Therapy and michaela McCarthy Private Practice.
Who are The Awareness Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harley Therapy, Relate and BACP-Accredited Training Providers (e.g., CPCAB, Iron Mill College). Broad incumbents are Priory Group and Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Emerging players are BetterHelp and Ieso Digital Health. Others are Mind (UK charity) and Therapy Directory. Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Talking Therapies is listed as a regional player.
Does The Awareness Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Awareness Centre.
What industry is The Awareness Centre in?
The Awareness Centre's product category is Mental Health Counselling & Psychotherapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAA, Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers, with a secondary code of EDAAALAD, Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE). Its NAICS code is 62133 and its SIC code is 8093.